Poll: Trump’s First Year in Office

This Navigator Research report covers the latest views of President Trump’s first year in office, including how Americans think his policies have impacted the country, and how they would rate his performance as President.

Americans Give Trump a C- Average

Trump gave his economy an “A+++++,” but Americans do not agree. They give Trump a C- average a year into his second term and give his economy the same grade. When rating Trump’s first year in office, over one-third of people give Trump an “F” (36%), including 37% of independents. Averaging out his grades, Trump scores a 1.78 GPA overall with Americans. Trump’s economy gets a 1.88 GPA, or C- average.

Majorities continue to disapprove of how President Trump handles the economy, inflation, and the presidency overall. 56% disapprove of both his handling of the economy and the presidency overall, while 58% disapprove of his handling of inflation and the cost of living. Among those disapproving of his handling of inflation are 44% of non-MAGA Republicans and 66% of independents.

Political Division and Costs Worse Under Trump

Nearly two-thirds believe political division has gotten worse during the first year of President Trump’s second term (65%), including 47% who say it has gotten “a lot” worse. Majorities also say the cost of living and health care costs have gotten worse under Trump (62% and 60%, respectively). When it comes to non-cost related metrics, 56% believe the functioning of our democracy has deteriorated and 54% say the lives of working people have gotten worse, including 50% of middle class Americans.

Majorities Link Cost Increases to Trump Policies

Eight in ten say both their cost of living generally and their grocery costs have increased as a result of Trump’s second term policies (80% and 79%, respectively). Americans are more likely to say their specific costs and costs generally have increased as a result of Trump’s policies rather than seeing cuts to programs as a result of his economic policies. Half believe Medicaid has been cut as a result of Trump’s actions (50%), and 42% believe Social Security and Medicare have been cut.

Utility costs (69%), housing costs (69%), and health care costs (61%), are all seen as increasing as a result of Trump’s policies.

Trump’s Tariffs to Blame for Costs

Nearly half say Trump’s tariffs are one of the top two policies they associate most with his second term (48%). Two thirds place it in their top three (64%). After tariffs, the policies most associated with Trump’s second term are: cuts to SNAP and Medicaid (38% top two, 54% top three) and cuts to the federal government via DOGE (29% top two, 43% top three).

One-third rank Trump’s tariffs first in terms of policies that have increased costs (33%), and a majority ranked it in their top three (55%). Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP as well as Trump’s ending of ACA subsidies were also ranked as cost increasing culprits –though not as highly as tariffs (Medicaid/SNAP; 40% top three, ACA; 39% top three).